Thursday, August 9th 2012

The collared shirt. It never goes away entirely, but it does manage to make some waves every few years. The last time the menswear classic was as ubiquitous as it is now? The Clueless era, when Cher Horowitz’s selections were ripe with embellishment and elongated hems. Today’s iteration takes a more classic approach, with clean cuts and crisp collars.

Equipment blouses have become industry standard, and a number of other brands have taken up the cause. A.L.C. by Andrea Lieberman did a standout button-down with a collar trimmed in black peaks—both simple and sublimely surprising. Tibi composed their collar in leather, and most brands (see Free People and the aforementioned Equipment for examples) have interpreted the recurring colorblock trend.

The look is a little bit prep, a little bit menswear, and a lot of fashion. Button the placket all the way up to the neck and tuck a delicate necklace under the collar, or layer this favorite under a comfy crewneck.